{"id":25973,"date":"2022-04-20T17:23:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T21:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25973"},"modified":"2022-04-23T10:25:47","modified_gmt":"2022-04-23T14:25:47","slug":"arsenal-bolster-top-four-hopes-with-win-at-stamford-bridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25973","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal Bolster Top Four Hopes With Win At Stamford Bridge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Bukayo Saka scores a penalty for Arsenal (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bukayo Saka banished his Euro 2020 final penalty shoot-out ghosts by converting a spot-kick as Arsenal toppled Chelsea 4-2 to reignite their bid for a top-four Premier League finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The England forward slotted home his first-ever penalty for Arsenal to seal the Gunners\u2019 vital win over the Blues, that drew Mikel Arteta\u2019s men level with fourth-placed Tottenham in the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saka missed the last penalty in England\u2019s 3-2 shoot-out defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley last July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 20-year-old won the late spot-kick at Stamford Bridge by drawing a foul from Cesar Azpilicueta, and quickly insisted on taking the penalty himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saka dismissed any nerves by side-footing home to boot, to put the seal on a crucial win for the Gunners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eddie Nketiah had twice seized upon slipshod defending to drive Arsenal into a 3-2 lead before Saka\u2019s strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nketiah capitalized on Andreas Christensen\u2019s woefully under-hit back-pass for his first Arsenal goal in 367 days, to open the scoring in west London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 22-year-old forward later settled a scrappy but engrossing contest when three attempted Chelsea clearances landed the ball straight into his path and through on goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timo Werner\u2019s deflected effort had Chelsea level quickly after Nketiah\u2019s first goal, with captain Azpilicueta then cancelling out a fine finish from Emile Smith Rowe before half-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fatigued and off-kilter Blues were made to pay for a string of errors however, with \u00a398million striker Romelu Lukaku again failing to fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toni Rudiger\u2019s absence with a minor groin problem destabilized Chelsea\u2019s defense

Koupit Levitru v Praze<\/a><\/div> , and Christensen endured a night to forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Denmark international was withdrawn at half-time in a below-par showing, but not even the peerless Thiago Silva could sharpen up the hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arsenal took full advantage of Chelsea\u2019s malaise to notch just their second win in six league matches, breaking a wretched run of results to move below Spurs on goal difference, leaving the race to finish fourth wide open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukaku\u2019s sole meaningful act of a quiet first half was to drag wide after being played in by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea had been under precious little pressure from the off, but constituted their own downfall with Christensen\u2019s horror-show attempted back-pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defender majorly under-sold his attempted pass to Edouard Mendy, instead gifting Nketiah a stroll in on goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nketiah needed no second invitation, and duly cantered in before providing a crisp finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea were level just four minutes later however, as Werner\u2019s 20-yard strike took a significant deflection off Granit Xhaka to beat Aaron Ramsdale at his near post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith Rowe quickly had Arsenal 2-1 ahead however, with a sharp side-footed finish after Saka had combined well with Martin Odegaard, who provided the assist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blues needed just five minutes this time to level, with Azpilicueta sneaking in to provide a poacher\u2019s finish to Mason Mount\u2019s teasing cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith Rowe had the last word in the half as Arsenal attacked again, but this time could only whip his effort wide of the post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silva replaced Christensen at the break, with the 37-year-old clearly drafted in to sure up the Blues\u2019 backline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not even the peerless Brazilian could solve Chelsea\u2019s defensive shortcomings however, as Arsenal took the lead again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silva won the ball at full stretch only for Malang Sarr to bungle the attempted clearance, allowing Nketiah to pounce for his second of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ball fell kindly for Nketiah, but Chelsea again set themselves up to fail with woeful defending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukaku was replaced by Kai Havertz moments after the goal, with a large swathe of the Blues support booing the Belgium striker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea could find no route back into the contest, and at the death the Blues conceded a spot-kick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saka stepped up seemingly well aware of his attempt to erase any lingering Euros memories, and he wrapped up a fine Arsenal result with a coolly converted effort.<\/p>\n

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